Imagine standing on the lush turf field, stick in hand, your team supporting you. An intense game and adrenaline rush that explodes out of your body onto the field. To some, it’s just a sporting event, but to others, playing field hockey brings a sense of tranquility and happiness unmatched by any other sport. Current Edison Intermediate student and field hockey player Maddy Desmai stated, “ Field hockey was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed it a lot. I also found that it was a preview on how high school field hockey would run which was very cool.”
This past year, the eighth graders learned to grow and apply their skills in gameplay, which is crucial for high school tryouts. They learned what it’s like to be a team member and gained insight into the hectic fall schedule that is presented in high school. High school prepares all the young adults to be released into the world, knowledgeable and fully prepared. The transition between middle school and high school may be difficult because students have to give their all not only in their academics but to their sports as well. Ms. Amanda Procaccino, freshman field hockey coach stated, “The intensity and commitment of the new season is harder to get used to as a freshman. Practices are longer and more demanding than what they used to be. The competitive atmosphere is also much greater, especially as you move into higher levels. Plus on top of all of this you have to learn to navigate high school–the workload and social dynamics.”
The stress of high school sports is unlike any other. The percentage of seventh graders playing sports is 82%, the percentage of high school students playing sports is 39%. This shows that over time the stress can get too far where the idea of stopping is more appealing than continuing. The incoming freshmen usually don’t understand the commitment that comes with field hockey. Mrs. Corrine Varhley, Varsity coach of the Westfield field hockey team declared, “Freshman were shocked with the amount of running if they didn’t prepare well for all of their workouts in advance because it is nothing like they have ever done.”
Sixty percent of athletes experience extreme stress in high school sports, yet many learn to develop time management skills that benefit them throughout high school and beyond. Scarlett Ruf, eighth grade student at Edison Intermediate stated, “Playing a WHS sport will motivate me not to procrastinate and to keep my grades up because if they are not high enough, I won’t be able to play the sport I love.”
For many students, attending high school means a school that has more rigid rules and daily obstacles they have to overcome, yet this environment shapes their entire experiences. Multiple students were asked how the transition between middle school to high school would affect them physically and mentally. Brynn Ferrera, current eighth grader at Edison Intermediate School stated, “Physically, it will be hard to balance school, sports and the overall new environment of high school. Yet mentally it would be beneficial by meeting new people and making new connections.”
The end of eighth grade year is one to never forget, it’s filled with celebration, laughter and unforgettable moments. It’s a chance to relax at the end of the year and look back at all the hard work that was done to get to this moment. Students go from a relaxed less stressed environment to a never ending cycle of work, yet should there be a change to this? Ava Goodstadt, eighth grader at Edison intermediate school stated, “It’s not going to be the easiest transition since students are not used to the strict and serious environment that high school has to offer.”
While the transition between middle school to high school is a very challenging time, it brings out significant personal growth. Students have to push beyond their limits to not drown in the amount of chaos high school has to bring. It’s a test on every individual how they can show up in ways that they have never done before. The real question is not how hard the journey is, it’s about how the students rise to the challenge.
